One of the best ways to reach family, friends, and strangers is through Instagram. However, if you want to share a video with someone on the platform, you will need to know how to post a YouTube video on Instagram.
So in this article, we’ll show you how to post a YouTube video to Instagram using your mobile device or desktop computer.
How to post a YouTube video to Instagram from your smartphone
Using a smartphone to post a YouTube video on Instagram is not as easy as it sounds. The process is different for Android and iPhone users, further complicating matters.
Step 1: install TubeMate
If you have an iPhone, check out our article detailing how to download YouTube videos to your iPhone Camera Roll. As for Android users, we will inform you how you can download YouTube videos to your device with TubeMate.
This application is not available through the Google Play Store, so you must download it directly from the TubeMate site. Before installing TubeMate, you will need to adjust security settings that allow your device to download apps that are not in the Google Play Store. Just be sure to use this setting only for apps you trust.
To enable this setting, go to Settings> Applications> Special access> Install unknown applications. From here, select the browser from which you are downloading TubeMate and activate “Allow from this source”.
Now you can go ahead and download TubeMate from any of the links on their site.
To download: Tubemate for Android (Free)
Step 2: download the YouTube video on your Android device
TubeMate writes about the original YouTube app and adds a download feature. Just open TubeMate, find the YouTube video you want to download, and then click the red download button in the lower right corner of the video.
You will have the option to choose between several different video qualities. If you want to download 1080p video (the maximum resolution for Instagram videos), you will need to download the MP3 video conversion app that TubeMate directs you to.
Step 3: shorten the video
In addition to putting a limit on the maximum resolution of your video, Instagram also has a duration restriction for videos: you can only upload videos between three and 60 seconds long. If your video is already within these limits, you can skip this step.
You can easily shorten your video using your phone’s built-in video editor or using a third-party app; For this part, I used the built-in editor on my phone. After accessing the video, I tapped on the pencil icon at the bottom of the video, and then selected the scissors icon. From here, I dragged the white bars to fit the part of the video I wanted to keep, and then press Save.
Step 4: post the YouTube video on Instagram
When you’re ready to post, open the Instagram app and click on the plus icon at the bottom of the page. Select YouTube video from your gallery, add a filter, write a title and then press Share.
How to post a YouTube video to Instagram from your computer
You have to go through so many hoops when you post a YouTube video to Instagram using your computer. It is a multi-step process that we describe below.
Step 1: Install 4K Video Downloader
4K Video Downloader is a reliable tool that you can use to download videos from YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Vimeo, and more. This full-featured video downloader not only allows you to extract subtitles from YouTube videos but even allows you to download 4K videos. This makes it ideal for preparing YouTube videos for Instagram.
To download: 4K Video Downloader for Windows, macOS or Linux (Free, with premium version available)
Step 2: download the YouTube video to your desktop
Now that you have 4K Video Downloader, you’ll want to use it to download the YouTube video of your choice. Start by copying the URL of the YouTube video and then press Paste the link in the upper left corner of the 4K Video Downloader menu.
4K Video Downloader will automatically detect the link you just copied. Once you’re done analyzing the video, you can choose from several different resolution options that can even go up to 8K if the video supports it. Instagram only allows uploading of videos up to 1080p, so you won’t have to worry about downloading 4K or 8K videos.
4K Video Downloader also presents you with an option to change the video format, but you will want to leave that set in MP4. To start the download, press to download at the end of the page.
Step 3: shorten the video
You can quickly trim the video with the built-in Windows app for movies and TV, or you can choose to use iMovie on macOS. There are also many other video editing applications you can use instead.
Here, we will give you a quick tutorial on how to trim the video on Movies and TV. After opening the video in Movies & TV, click on the pencil icon at the bottom of the menu and select Prune from the dropdown menu.
You can drag the two white markers on either side of the video timeline to set a new duration. When you’re done, click Save a copy in the upper right corner of the app.
Step 4: transfer YouTube video to your smartphone using Google Drive
Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t allow you to post photos or videos from your desktop site. The easiest way to avoid this is to send the downloaded video to your smartphone.
There are quite a few options when it comes to transferring the video to your mobile device. You can use a cloud storage provider, attach the video to an email, or even sync your mobile device with your computer. For this article, we will show you how to send the video to your smartphone using Google Drive.
First, make sure you have a Google Drive account and make sure you have downloaded the Google Drive app on your smartphone.
To upload your video to Drive, follow these easy steps:
- Open Google Drive.
- Hit the New button in the left corner of the screen.
- Select Upload file from the dropdown menu.
- Find the YouTube video you downloaded and press Open.
When the video finishes loading, you should be able to open Google Drive on your mobile device and select the video. From here, tap the three vertical dots in the right corner of the video and tap to download.
Now that the video is on your mobile device, you can upload the video to Instagram by following the same steps as described above.
Sharing a YouTube video on Instagram may sound complicated, but it’s easy once you get used to it. While both of the methods outlined above require a series of steps, posting to your smartphone is ultimately the easiest way to post a YouTube video to Instagram. This way, you don’t have to go through the hassle of dealing with Google Drive.
Having YouTube videos on your Instagram page can help attract more followers to your page. For more ways to make your profile unique, check out these tips to make your Instagram stand out
She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.